When Giving Isn’t Godly
Lately I’m learning that there are healthy kinds of boundaries, especially with making commitments.
Have you ever done something out of kindness for someone one time, and then over time they keep coming back, and what once was cheerful giving now felt like a chore you couldn’t say no to?
Even Jesus said no when crowds were waiting for Him to heal them. It wasn’t because He didn’t want to (I’m sure His heart was deeply moved by each of them and He probably prayed for them that morning He went away by Himself). But He knew what the Father wanted Him to prioritize for that day: preaching the gospel to the next town.
Though radical generosity is a beautiful trait that should characterize all Christians (especially since our natural inclination is selfishness and greed), I also think we need to be careful of giving/helping out of fear. In particular, we need to watch out for fear of disappointing people, being cancelled, or causing inconvenience/difficulty for a person.
And here are some reasons why:
Serving others shouldn’t be a fearful and traumatic thing.
It should be from a place of abundance—sharing the grace that you receive from God. But if you’re giving from an empty cup, soon enough you’ll have nothing to give.
When God says rest, we rest.
Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your limitations in humility. If others cancel you for not delivering on a day of rest, know that they are cancelling God, not you who are walking in obedience. God will take care of you (Matt 10:32).
You don’t know God’s bigger plan.
Maybe saying no will affect others: Projects might get delayed, or even basic needs may not be afforded. But if God is nudging you to withdraw your hand, it might be because He wants to take care of the situation. Let Him be their Savior, not you.
Has God ever told you to say no before? Let me know in the comments! And if this has been helpful, feel free to share.
(This post was taken from Darla Baltazar’s post from Instagram on June 22, 2022.)
Support Darla Baltazar on Patreon.
We are vessels made to be occupied by one thing only. We can deny self and choose Christ, or deny Christ and choose self. It will always be one or the other.